210 FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 



Wild Wormwood. Parthenium Hysterophorus L. 



Absinthe batarde des antilles (fr.) Escoba amarga(sp.) 



The bruised leaves are used to apply to ulcers. The whole 

 plant is in great repute for making baths and fomentations for 

 ulcers and skin diseases. It may be used in other respects the 

 same as wormwood q.v. and it is the source of the alkaloid 

 Parthenine, a reputed remedy for neuralgia. 



Arnica. Arnica montanum. 



A tincture is prepared from the roots for application to 

 bruises &c. It is sometimes taken internally as a stimulant and 

 diaphoretic. The flowers yield a blue or brownish essential oil, 

 and the roots a brownish yellow one. 



Sun flower. Hilianthus annas. 

 Girasol (sp. A: fr.) Suriij-mukhi (H.) 

 Has long been grown for its oil seeds and other products in 

 Russia and India. In India it is considered a very exhausting- 

 crop for the land, which is allowed to fallow after every second 

 crop. Amount of seed to sow an acre. 4— 61bs. The average 

 yield (in Mysore) ll. 1 , cwts. per acre. The seeds are threshed 

 out of the dried heads with Hails, and when quite dry are 

 hulled in horse grinding mills. Continued pressure extracts 

 the best oil, which is considered equal to olive oil when 

 purified. It is pale yellow in colour, thicker than Hempseed oil. 

 of - 926 sj>. gr., dries slowly, and solidities at 100 c. The yield of 

 the oil is Hi to 28 per cent, of the seed. The chief uses of the 

 unpurified oil are for woollen-dressing, lighting and candle and 

 soap manufacture, for the latter purpose it is superior to most 

 oils. The leaves are Uoecl for fodder, to make asthma cigarettes, 

 and after being steeped in Tobacco water, to adulterate tobacco. 

 The meal after expression of the oil is excellent food for fowls, 

 cattle and horses. The stalks make good fuel and yield much 

 potash. They are said also to yield a valuable fibre. 



